Steve Jobs confirms native iPhone SDK by February

In a new posting to Apple.com's Hot News webpage, chief executive Steve Jobs has confirmed plans to release a software developer's kit (SDK) for iPhone by February that will allow developers to write native applications for the touch-screen handset as well as the iPod touch.

Let me just say it: We want native third party applications on the iPhone, and we plan to have an SDK in developers hands in February. We are excited about creating a vibrant third party developer community around the iPhone and enabling hundreds of new applications for our users. With our revolutionary multi-touch interface, powerful hardware and advanced software architecture, we believe we have created the best mobile platform ever for developers.

It will take until February to release an SDK because were trying to do two diametrically opposed things at onceprovide an advanced and open platform to developers while at the same time protect iPhone users from viruses, malware, privacy attacks, etc. This is no easy task. Some claim that viruses and malware are not a problem on mobile phonesthis is simply not true. There have been serious viruses on other mobile phones already, including some that silently spread from phone to phone over the cell network. As our phones become more powerful, these malicious programs will become more dangerous. And since the iPhone is the most advanced phone ever, it will be a highly visible target.

Some companies are already taking action. Nokia, for example, is not allowing any applications to be loaded onto some of their newest phones unless they have a digital signature that can be traced back to a known developer. While this makes such a phone less than totally open, we believe it is a step in the right direction. We are working on an advanced system which will offer developers broad access to natively program the iPhones amazing software platform while at the same time protecting users from malicious programs.

We think a few months of patience now will be rewarded by many years of great third party applications running on safe and reliable iPhones.

Steve

P.S.: The SDK will also allow developers to create applications for iPod touch. [Oct 17, 2007]

If this turns out, then my last objection to the platform may well be moot, but we'll have to see how it's set up. I think it would have been nice to have this known up front rather than be speculation for months.

Per the article, from what I've seen on their site, Nokia allows self-signing. I think it takes an extra step to have it operate on the device though, but that makes some sense.

Lets just hope Apple doesn't try to rip off developers charging them for certification, as that will immediately prevent any freeware apps. We'll see - I expect we'll hear more at MacWorld. I also expect we're about to see a new iPhone firmware that will totally screw anyone's ability to put custom apps on it...

Sadly, any attempts by Apple to provide a stable and secure dev environment will be greeted as not enough by the 'we want it all NOW crowd'. Face it... hacking is WAY more fun.
BTW, anyone thinking that such an environment could have been provided within the first few months of release are delusional, so spare us the 'whoo hoo... we forced Apple's hand' victory chants.

Jobs said quite a while ago that Apple would have a solution for creating apps for the phone that would satisfy everyone. He said that it was a lot of work to do, and that they hoped that it would be out by the end of the year.

Considering how software projects go, February isn't too late.

This will make a huge difference. I wonder if they will have a beta for Macworld. It's interesting that they are confirming it now. It's almost a random date. Unless it has something to do with one of the lawsuits.

At any rate this covers one of my needs. Now, if they can have a 3G model before too long, I'll plunk my money down.

This is very good news. Not sure whether it was planned all along, but who cares? In the long term, mobile OS X now has a very good chance of burying mobile Windows.

An interesting thing to note is that the iPhone is a very visible, large target for malware writers. Since iPhone runs OS X, Apple have a lot to lose in viruses appearing for the iPhone, as said viruses could (depending on how they work) spread to Apple's computers, and that would be

An interesting thing to note is that the iPhone is a very visible, large target for malware writers. Since iPhone runs OS X, Apple have a lot to lose in viruses appearing for the iPhone, as said viruses could (depending on how they work) spread to Apple's computers, and that would be

Everyone who's been calling for a little rationality on this subject has said all along that the reason that an SDK was not released out of the box was precisely for this reason. You don't release a brand new platform built on a powerful operating system and immediately open it up to uncontrolled, anonymous development.
My concern is that Apple may be reacting too much to the pressure and releasing the keys to the kingdom too early.
I want them to lock this baby down like a drum before they start letting every malware author take their crack.